Inset: John Finney (Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The block in Illinois where Finney and his wife lived (Google Maps).
An Illinois man has been sentenced for the murder of his wife, whose body he transported in the trunk of his Ford Escape.
John W. Finney, 52, faced charges of first-degree murder following the death of his wife, 42-year-old Amy J. Finney. After being convicted, the court handed down a 75-year prison sentence, as reported by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office through a statement.
On the evening of September 1, 2025, at approximately 8 p.m., authorities responded to a potential homicide alert in Jefferson County. They began searching for a gray 2007 Ford Escape linked to the crime.
Roughly an hour later, a Christopher Police Department officer located the vehicle, leading to a traffic stop with the assistance of other officers. John Finney was found inside the car and was promptly arrested.
During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered Amy Finney’s lifeless body. Meanwhile, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies gathered evidence suggesting the crime had occurred at the Finney home, according to their report.
Investigators combed through the couple’s residence for further evidence. Early findings indicated that Amy Finney was killed by a gunshot during a domestic altercation with John at their home, the sheriff’s office disclosed the following day.
Investigators believed John Finney killed his wife on Aug. 31, 2025, and then spent several hours driving around with her body inside his Ford Escape the following day before he was arrested, regional CBS and The CW affiliate KFVS reported. Amy Finney was found in the hatchback of the vehicle.
After being sentenced, Finney was returned to jail. Authorities say he will be transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections to serve his time.
